Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-09

about results very much more effective
than could be secured by legislation.
With this assurance the committee did
not intend TO bring up the matter to-
day.
In the course of speech in favor Of
the pending bill Mr.. Phelps, OF New
Jersey, said the archives OF the State
Department showed that the Chinese
Government had been always prompt
and generous in making payment for
losses incurred by Americans in China.
Some weeks ago, he added, news reached
Shanghai that the city OF Charleston
had been shaken, not destroyed by
earthquakes, and last week the Con-
sui General resident in Shanghai
transmitted 1890, contributed by
the poor Cinnamon OF Shanghai
for the relief of the Charleston suffer
ers. He could not but recall that while
miscreants and not the act Of God did
not simply injure, but entirely de
siroyed and obliterated the village of
Rock Springs, there had not been any
contributions from any OF the neigh
boring villages or towns in order 10
compensate the Chinese for the losses
which they had cruelty suffered. If
the United States Government WAS not
bound, in view Of the past history OF
the two countries, TO indemnify Chinese
subjects, it would be bound to do so
under all treaty obligations.
Mr.. Clements, of Georgia, while APP
l.,ll al M an, noopunt ,,f
the past friendly relations between the
two countries, and as an act of gem
crosby and humanity, and contended
that there was no legal international
obligations under the treaty requiring
this Government to provide for an in
demnity. The respective merits OF the
Senate bill (which provide for the as
certainment of the losses incurreD
and the House bill (Which makes a
direct appropriation of Sl47, 748)
were briefly discussed The advocates
Of the Senate bill placed their advocacy
upon the ground that it would sooner
become law, and that the amount Of
the losses could he more correctly as
certained. The advocates of the House
measure contcnded that TO pass the
Senate bill would be to delay the pay
ment for twelve months, and, as Mr..
Worthington, of Illinois, expressed it,
to present a Christian country in sad
light as compared with the prompt ac-
ton of the Chinese Government in in
Identifying Americans who have been
wronged.
Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, favored the
House bill, being opposed to making
two bites of a cherry. The claim was
q small one and righteous one, and it
did not become this country to procras-
innate longer in making payment. The
claim should have been paid long ago,
and it was with no pride as an Ameri-
can citizen that he contemplated the
fact that the Chinese Government had
always acted in a spirit of grace and
courtesy and generosity and OF good
neighborhood.
The House bill was substituted for
the Senate bill-101 to 6S-and as so
amended the bill was reported to the
House and passed.
MIR. Cox. of North Carolina, then
called up, and the House passed the
senate BID prohibiting the importation
Of opium into the United States by any
subject ofthe Emperor Of China.
Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, called up,
and the House passed the bill to carry
into effect the international Convention
Of March /, 1884, for the protection Of
submarine cables. 1t makes the break
ing of the cables wilfully, or through
culpable negligence, a misdemeanor,
punishable by fine or imprisonment.
The House at o'clock took recess
until 1870, the evening session to be for
the delivery of eulogies upon the late
Representatives Beach, Dowdney, and
Arnott, of New York. rs